Spinal ligament modification devices
A method for treating stenosis in a spine comprises percutaneously accessing the epidural space in a stenotic region of interest, compressing the thecal sac in the region of interest to form a safety zonem, inserting a tissue removal tool into tissue in the working zone, using the tool to percutaneously reduce the stenosis; and utilizing imaging to visualize the position of the tool during at least a part of the reduction step. A tissue excision system for performing percutaneous surgery, comprises a cannula comprising a tissue-penetrating member having a distal end defining an aperture on one side thereof, an occluding member slidably received on or in the cannula and closing the aperture when the occluding member is adjacent the cannula distal end, means for engaging adjacent tissue via the aperture, and cutting means for resecting a section of the engaged tissue.
1 . A device for removing tissue from a stenosed spine, comprising:
a cannula having a side aperture proximal its distal end;
an elongate body housed within said cannula and comprising two radially extendable arms constructed such that radially extending said arms causes them to extend outward through said side aperture and retracting said arms causes them to close.
2 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said arms each include an opposing edge and at least one opposing edge includes teeth or ridges.
3 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said opposing edges comprise cutting blades.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , further including an outer cutting element slidably mounted on one of said cannula and said body.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , further including a retractable tissue-retrieval device.
6 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said tissue-retrieval device can be extended into said cannula to engage a tissue sample, retracted for removal of the tissue sample, and re-extended into the outer needle.
7 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said tissue-retrieval device comprises a barb.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , further including means for removing tissue from the tissue-engaging device.
9 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said tissue removing means comprises a keyhold slot.
10 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said elongate body has first and second ends and wherein said arms are predisposed to extend outwardly when said first and second ends are brought together.
11 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said elongate body has first and second ends and wherein said arms are prevented from buckling inwardly when said first and second ends are brought together.
12 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said elongate body comprises an azimuthal portion of a hollow tube with a longitudinal slot extending partially between its ends.